Explore / Sandown
Make Sandown your base for a holiday built around the sea. Start with the beach, add a little fossil history and leave space for a slow walk along the bay. This is where you will find our featured stay, 11 Breakwater.
A closer look at Sandown
Make Sandown your base for a holiday built around the sea. Start with the beach, add a little fossil history and leave space for a slow walk along the bay. This is where you will find our featured stay, 11 Breakwater.
Keep the first part of the day simple: the sandy beach, a seafront stroll and a stop for breakfast. The Revetment links Sandown and Shanklin, so you can make the coast itself part of your day out. Check conditions and access before setting off.
Dinosaur Isle brings the island’s fossil story indoors. Sandham Gardens offers a more active change of pace, while the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary focuses on rescued animals and conservation. Pick one main attraction rather than rushing between all three.
Sandown has an Island Line station and bus connections. Beach access, dog restrictions and attraction opening times can vary seasonally; check the relevant operator before visiting.
Local reference: Visit Isle of Wight — Sandown. Guide reviewed September 2026.
Days worth making time for
Check opening times, accessibility and tickets with the attraction before you travel.
Sandown · Rainy-day discovery
Explore the island’s prehistoric past through fossils and displays. An indoor option to pair with a walk along Sandown’s seafront.
Visit attraction website ↗Image: Geni / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sandown · Wildlife & conservation
Learn about rescued animals and the work behind their care. Check the sanctuary’s current visitor information and keeper-talk programme before you go.
Visit attraction website ↗Image: Clare Wilkinson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Sandown · Family activity
An active addition to a beach day, with dinosaur-themed golf and other outdoor attractions. Check age restrictions and which activities are operating.
Visit attraction website ↗Image: Paul Coueslant / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
More inspiration: Visit Isle of Wight · Red Funnel’s island guide · Traveller reviews on Tripadvisor.
OUR FEATURED STAY11 Breakwater · Sandown
This dog-friendly seaside home puts Sandown beach close by, with room for six and a hot tub waiting at the end of your day.